Caledonia (song)
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For other songs known as "Caledonia", see "Jamie Raeburn", "Canada-I-O" and "Amy MacDonald".
For the jump blues song, see "Caldonia"
"Caledonia" (also known as "Jean and Caledonia") (Roud # 3801) is a Scottish folk ballad.
It first appeared in the song-book "Pocket Songster or Caledonian Warbler" in 1823. "Sair, sair was my heart, an' the tears stood in my een/As I viewed my native hills an' I thought upon my Jean." Pressed by poverty, the two sadly part; he promises to be true, and wed no other, and someday to come back to marry her.
"Caledonia" is also the name of a modern Scottish folk ballad, written by Dougie MacLean somewhere between 1974 and 1977[1] and published in 1979 on an album of the same name[2]. It has the lyrics "Caledonia, you're calling me, and now I'm going home". MacLean plays the song in the key of E using Open C tuning with a capo on the 4th fret, as can be seen in video recordings[3]. This version has been covered by artists including Frankie Miller and Fish. It is included in the 2007 album release by Celtic Woman, A New Journey, sung by Lisa Kelly.The song is also covered by the Scottish singer/songwriter Paolo Nutini on a special version of his album These Streets. The cover on this album is a live recording. Another cover was included as a hidden track on singer/songwriter Amy Macdonald's album 'This is the life'
Cross references
Compare with "Erin's Flowery Vale" also known as "The Irish Girl's Lament" or "Dobbin's Flowey Vale" (Roud 999, Laws O29) (plot) and references there
Caledonia lyrics:
I don't know if you can see
The changes that have come over me
In these last few days I've been afraid
That I might drift away
I've been telling old stories, singing songs
That make me think about where I've come from
That's the reason why I seem
So far away today
[Chorus:]
Let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me, now I'm going home
But if I should become a stranger
Know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had
Now I have moved and I've kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed proving
Lost the friends that I needed losing
Found others on the way
I have kissed the fellas and left them crying
Stolen dreams, yes, there's no denying
I have traveled hard, sometimes with conscience flying
Somewhere with the wind
[Chorus]
Now I'm sitting here before the fire
The empty room, the forest choir
The flames have cooled, don't get any higher
They've withered, now they've gone
But I'm steady thinking, my way is clear
And I know what I will do tomorrow
When hands have shaken, the kisses float
Then I will disappear
[Chorus]
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had
